The capital city of India is a glorious concoction of the old and the new. Temples that are centuries old, archaic Muslim quarters, and modern residencies, all exist alongside each other. Home to over a crore people, Delhi is a treasure trove of historic gems, gardens, museums and a thriving food culture. Travel to the metropolis for the vibrant bazaars of Chandni Chowk that give way to Lutyens’ New Delhi, which is the historic heart of the city. For an insight into the legacy of the Mughal era, go to the 16th century Humayun’s Tomb, the towering sandstone mosque of Jama Masjid, and experience the sound and light show at Red Fort. Tourists can spend mornings at the extravagant Akshardham Temple and evenings at the Hazrat Nizam-ud-din Dargah (shrine) that boasts of sufi music and delicious kebabs.
Another popular attraction of Delhi are its pulsating markets that sell everything from baubles to handicrafts, sell everything you can possibly think of. Those who have travelled to Delhi for its particular brand of food, will have a lot on their plates. From hole-in-the-wall eateries and local student cafes in North Delhi to lavish restaurants and bars in South Delhi, there is no dish or cuisine you won’t find here. A huge incentive for travellers is the variety of public transport, wherein the Delhi Metro is the cheapest and easiest way to get around the city.
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From Delhi we had our bus to Manali in the evening .Bus Booking : You get good sleeper and semi sleeper AC and non-AC Volvo buses from Delhi. Charges around 750 – 1500 INR .You can save 1 day by flying direct to Kullu Airport which is 20 steps from Bhuntar . From Bhuntar you would get cabs or local bus to Manali .However , the flight rates are kinda high if your flying direct .For cost-cutting you can enjoy an amazing bus ride and travel the roads from the very beginning .We reached Manali around 11 am . We chose to stay near old Manali just to escape from the commercial taste of Manali city . Hotels were available at our reach . If you are visiting in peak season you can pre-book your hotel to get a place of your choice . People like me, who donot believe in bad luck can figure out someplace to stay as cheap as 500-1000 INR . You can try Zostel . Try the food places around Manali with live acoustic music in the evening .

With wet clothes/feet, one hand bare, no cap & just a fleece line jacket, I realised this wasn't going to be easy. Started getting bad thoughts about having to spend the night in the valley or if we needed rescuing. Sometimes we would just slip, at other times one leg would just go down a pit you thought wasn't there. A girl's condition got worse & we had to take breaks. I think she probably threw up. Even our guide was doubting at times if we were going the correct way or not. There was no sense of direction. Nausea struck again but I fought it hard with will power & brushed the negative thoughts aside.We were trekking back at night with help of flashlights & cell phones. A risky affair. We literally took baby steps most of the way. Around 10 PM we saw individual sources of light in the distance, as if the stars had come down on the horizon. Seeing the base camp brought back everyone's confidence! The lights were coming from hundreds of tents. We signalled from our flashlights & even got a response! I remembered the lyrics "Lights will guide you home" from Coldplay's hit song "Fix You". It was a blissful sight, but there was one more obstacle.Crossed a huge glacier stream barefoot, holding hands. I think that definitely gave me mild fever. (Swallowed a pill later)Spine chilling experience!Reached Rola Khuli (Base Camp) at around 11 pm amidst applauds of our camp mates. We were greeted with Rum & Dinner. Even had Gulab Jamuns! Bless the person who brought it! Our guide said, what we've achieved is remarkable, even by his standards. No one completes Bhrigu in 1 day. Almost 13 km of trekking without rest or acclimatisation! An adventurous tale to tell.We were going to spend the night in Rola Khuli. It rained bonkers that night. Sound of thunder gave everyone goosebumps!. My tent didn't cave in thankfully. Everyone was talking about it in morning.

Day 11: Reached around 6 am in morning in delhi. As our train was around 10 am. we took an auto towards the station Sarai rohila. Waited on station till the train came. Turn by turn keeping an eye on luggage and charging the phones on station. Finally 2 day journey in Gareeb rath to Mumbai. Trip completed successfully .

at around 11 PM bus stopped at a restaurant, I was so hungry that I didn't bother to notice name of it. After having my dinner & taking my seat back in bus, I slept so well that only thing I remember is getting up at Majnu ka Teela stop in Delhi, it was still dark around 6 in the morning.the whole experience was an amazing one, a unplanned day turn in to a life time memory.If any one is having any doubt or any query regarding trip please comment or contact me at beyondhorizon18@gmail.com I will get back to u at earliest.you can also read my blog at http://beyondhorizon8.blogspot.in/2017/07/mcleodganj-in-day.htmlTaTa, leaving below some pics of Mcleodganj, next blog coming very soon.

Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,May,June,October,November,December

Once known as Shyamala, synonymous with Goddess Kali, Shimla has been a summer retreat long before India even gained independence.
This famous hill station similarly has a lot of places and things to see untouched by time. For instance, take a vintage joy ride from Kalka station to Shimla in a charming toy train that will take you through towering Deodars, hills and villages. Shimla truly comes alive during winters when a blanket of snow covers it all over making every nook and corner gleam and glisten. One such place is the ice skating rink (natural ice) near Lakkar Bazaar that opens from November to December. More winter sports include skiing, which can be enjoyed 21 km from Shimla in Kufri. Adventure activities such as rafting at Tattapani or a trek to Shali Tibba and Pabbar Valley are also worthwhile experiences.
If you are fond of haunted stories and interested in having your own spooky adventure, you'll love Shimla. A lot of people including the renowned Rudyard Kippling (in 'My Own True Ghost Story) have written various eerie stories set around Shimla. A place known most for giving many people the jeepers-creepers is the Charleville Mansion.
Another time travelling portal is the antique bookstore, Marina Brothers, located on Mall Road, which is truly a reader and collector's paradise.
There are many luxury and budget hotels here, meaning you'll never fall short of options. Popular places to eat include Wake & Bake, Ashiana, Cecil and Minchy's that serve commendable Indian and multi-cuisine dishes and delicious gourmet food.Read More

sitting on the lap of mighty himalayan range, Shimla is a well known destination of northern India. It is easily accessible from national capital region and hence rest of India. It was the summer capital of british emperors which is quite easily visible in architecture at each and every corner of this hill city. Capital city of northern Indian state Himachal Pradesh, is a popular summer destination., however hills unveil different colors during different seasons. I visited the place in summer when it was crowded, hot and looked more brown than white or green. On the other hand in February, hills became animated. It was covered with sheets of snow, roads were deserted and air was mist and cold. It was an entirely different place, which was more themed and composed.

Day 2 (Shimla- Peo)•Got little confused on places to visit next. Decided to do “Shimla darshan” for the day and figure out the bus timings and best route meanwhile.•Visited the infamous Mall Road and did a small trek to Jakhu Temple with a huge Lord Hanuman's sculpture. On the way down, visited Christ Church and Kali Bari Temple. Trust me, we are not that much of god-believing persons, but Shimla didn’t have much to offer in terms of travel.•Being a tea lover, “Pahadi Chai” at “Café Under Tree” at the mountain top compensated for lack of travelling spots.•Went to “Central Perk” café (rings a bell?) super-excitedly, however, the excitement was short lived on finding out that “Central Perk” was just in the name, but nowhere in its theme. However, the food and service was good.•Took HP Ordinary bus to Reckong Peo. The Last Seats. Hell of a bumpy ride it was. Immediate fall in temperature after 5-6 hours of travel forced us to add layers of clothes on us. Two narrow bridges on the way made the journey far more exciting (as we survived :P).

Day 1 (Delhi to Simla)•AC Semi-Sleeper Volvo from Delhi to Simla. Kirti and I had a good chase for the bus (thanks to my laziness) and as usual, Chitraj was there for the rescue, holding the bus for us, updating us with smallest of its movement till the time we finally jumped our way into the bus.•Just 2 lines of a novel were sufficient for one of us to doze-off ;)•Had home-made food on the way•Reached Shimla New ISBT. Went to Old ISBT, as next day had to catch a bus from there to Peo•Started with hotel hunting and came across all the weird hotels, with shady appearance and surroundings. Finally, with much of uphill and downhill workout, found a decent last minute deal on goibibo for Hotel Sita Palace on Mall Road. A nice place but with weird water timings.

Begin your day with a stroll down the mall.The most visited and admired place is the Mall Road, the Ridge and the Christ Church which are all located in the vicinity. Though they offer a great view from the edges at all the times, it is recommended to spend sometime in the morning when it's less crowded and rather refreshing. It will help you in experiencing the prolific view from the ridge as the day begins.Take a guided tour in the splendid Viceregal Lodge

we had so much fun. we walked on the rail gauge. Shimla is famous for its Toy train. The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway in North India traveling along a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla. (Source: Wiki)

Shimla was built on top of a total of seven different hills namely: Inverarm Hill, Observatory Hill, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Bantony Hill, Elysium Hill and Jakhoo Hill. The highest point in Shimla is the Jakhoo hill, which is at a height of 2,454 metres (8,051 ft). Being the summer capital of British India, Shimla has some of the finest architectural heritage bestowed to it, and of course add to it the various splendors of nature, forests, waterfalls and glades.Our walk begins in the morning from The Christ church on the ridge and gradually progresses westwards, first towards The Gaiety Theatre and after the scandal point towards Bantony hill whose top is adorned by the Bantony castle built in 1880, while its lower slope houses the Catholic church. A little further ahead are the Grand hotel and the Kali Bari temple. Our walk continues past more architectural heritage structures like the unique railway board building, Gorton castle as we reach Inverarm hill which houses the State museum and a little ahead is the Observatory hill with the Viceregal Lodge, which housed the Viceroy in British times and now is established as The Indian institute of Advanced studies. Our walk finishes here.Distance 5kmsShimla Heritage Walk (Full Day) Shimla was built on top of a total of seven different hills namely: Inverarm Hill, Observatory Hill, Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Bantony Hill, Elysium Hill and Jakhoo Hill. The highest point in Shimla is the Jakhoo hill, which is at a height of 2,454 metres (8,051 ft). Being the summer capital of British India, Shimla has some of the finest architectural heritage bestowed to it, and of course add to it the various splendors of nature, forests, waterfalls and glades.Our walk begins in the morning from The Christ church on the ridge and gradually progresses westwards, first towards The Gaiety Theatre and after the scandal point towards Bantony hill whose top is adorned by the Bantony castle built in 1880, while its lower slope houses the Catholic church. A little further ahead are the Grand hotel and the Kali Bari temple. Our walk continues past more architectural heritage structures like the unique railway board building, Gorton castle as we reach Inverarm hill which houses the State museum and a little ahead is the Observatory hill with the Viceregal Lodge, which housed the Viceroy in British times and now is established as The Indian institute of Advanced studies. Our first half of the walk finishes here.Enjoy some tea and snacks at Viceregal lodge café and thereafter continue your walk through a thickly forested path to Summerhill which houses the Himachal University. We board our vehicle here and driving through meandering roads head for the Prospect hill, adorned with the temple of Kamna Devi on the top. After spending a while indulging in some Photography we board the vehicles again, and driving through Boileauganj, Cart road we make a dash for Annadale and visit the Army museum. Backtrack on the same road we drive through Victory tunnel and past Elesium hill which has The Auckland house school we reach Sanjauli from we drive uphill to Jakhoo hill which has a Hanuman temple dedicated to it at the top. From here we will descend, walking back to the ridge. Our walk finishes here.Distance Walking 7kms, Vehicle 30kmsTHE CATCHMENT SANCTUARY WALKCharabara in Shimla is surrounded on three sides by the magnificent Shimla Water Catchment Sanctuary, a 125 year old sanctuary that was established by the British as a reserved forest. The sanctuary was the initial source of water for Shimla, the water pumped to Shimla town through a series of steam pumps, reputed to be the first of their kind in the country. Today this pristine and undisturbed forest stretches across an area of 12 square kilometres and is considered by many as one of the wealthiest storehouses of Himalayan flora. This extremely dense forest is also the habitat for a vast variety of fauna, the most prominent being the Leopard. Although a sighting of this extremely human-shy and nocturnal animal is very rare, regular reports of droppings prove the existence of a large population within the sanctuary. The Himalayan Black Bear and the Brown Bear, Barking Deer, Goral, Jackal, Indian Red Fox, Striped Hyena and the Yellow-Throated Martin are some of the species of wildlife that thrive in the undisturbed forests of the sanctuary. A wide variety of bird and pheasant species can also be spotted in the lower altitude belts of the sanctuary, some of the more prominent ones being the Cheer, Koklas and Khaleej pheasants, the Himalayan Pied Woodpecker, the Great Himalayan Barbet and some sparklingly colorful minivets. A bifurcation penetrates deep into the sanctuary along a prominent ridgeline. Descend down to the Seyog Forest Rest House, a hundred year old lathe and plaster (Dhajji) structure located in the midst of this silent forest. The narrow trail undulates for an hour or more through one of the best-preserved forests in Asia. Cedars, Firs, Pines and Oaks jostle each other for space and the canopy-density at places prevents even the sunlight from peeping through to the forest floor. Droppings and pugmarks of the fauna are regular sightings along this trail and if ones luck holds out, a perky Barking Deer too might flash past in gay abandon. As one would guess, this is an excellent site for some bird-watching too.Our walk starts in the morning at 9:30 when our expert picks you up from your hotel and we drive to Dhalli, and further up to Charabara. A bifurcation penetrates deep into the sanctuary along a prominent ridgeline. Descend down to the Seyog Forest Rest House, a hundred year old lathe and plaster (Dhajji) structure located in the midst of this silent forest. The narrow trail undulates for an hour or more through one of the best-preserved forests in Asia. Cedars, Firs, Pines and Oaks jostle each other for space and the canopy-density at places prevents even the sunlight from peeping through to the forest floor. Droppings and pugmarks of the fauna are regular sightings along this trail and if ones luck holds out, a perky Barking Deer too might flash past in gay abandon. A well-deserved picnic lunch (be sure not to litter) at the ancient rest house can be followed by a stroll down to the man-made reservoir that collects water from across the sanctuary before supplying it to Shimla town. As one would guess, this is an excellent site for some bird-watching too. Our walk continues deeper into the sanctuary through a network of trails and we end it just short of Kufri at around 2:00PM.Drive back to hotel.Distance Walking 9kms, Vehicle 30kmsTHE SHALI TIBBA HIKEThe Shali Tibba (2867m) is the highest peak in the vicinity of Shimla. It is a magnificent isolated pinnacle with a Kali temple on the top. The ascent up to Shali is an ancient trail through dense pine forests and rolling alpine pastures. It is a steep and steady climb to the often mist enveloped peak. The peak commands an unforgettable view of endless snow covered ranges along with the Sutlej valley and the densely forested hills of Shimla, Fagu and Narkanda. For the avid photographer and nature lover, this one-day trek offers the experience of a lifetime.DETAILED ITINERARY:1) SHIMLA (2205 m)- MASHOBRA - KHATNOL (1850 m)...45 km.Depart Shimla at 6 A.M. by jeep. Breakfast at Mashobra, noted for its apple Orchards and thick woods of oak and pine. Proceed via Baldhea along a fascinating dirt track to Gulshaini, a tiny hamlet (1250 m) situated at the base of the peak. From Gulshaini it is a steady climb along a rough road till Khatnol, an isolated village perched amidst rolling fields. Here we park the jeep to start the ascent.2) KHATNOL - SHALI TIBBA (2867m)...5 km.Halt at the Khatnol Forest Rest House for a well-deserved break along with a sumptuous lunch. Begin the climb to Shali after a short rest. The landscape changes dramatically as we follow the ancient trail towards the peak. It is a three-hour climb at a leisurely pace with ample time to stand and stare at the surrounding magnificence and the imposing peak looming ahead. The final climb is a tough one and is amply rewarded by the breathtaking view from the top.3) SHALI TIBBA - KHATNOL - SHIMLAAfter a visit to the historic temple and a frenzied session of photography, we start the surprisingly quick descent down to Khatnol. One is back in the jeep by sunset to start the drive back to Shimla. Reach Shimla by late evening for a well-deserved and satisfying sleep with the memories of climbing the highest peak of the Shimla hills.Distance Walking 10kms, Vehicle 100kmsTHE MASHOBRA to SIPUR HIKEEarly morning drive from Shimla to the picturesque Mashobra valley which is mirrored by the tall Shali Peak (3200m). The route holds thick woods where practically every tree of the region grows - Himalayan Cedar (the almost legendary ‘Deodar’), Spruce, Oak, Rhododendron, Horse-Chestnut, Birch and Pine. Depending on the time of year, a variety of wildflowers grace the hillsides - the rhododendrons flower a dark red in spring, summer has banks of roses, daises and buttercups, the monsoons speckle the luxuriant grass with lilies-of-the-valley and peonies. Through the year, flitting butterflies stab quick flashes of color. The trail crosses picture-perfect hamlets where the word ‘time’ seems to mean only the seasons and the passing years - and where life has followed a steady pace for centuries. Trace fast flowing streams, cross a ‘sacred grove’ whose majestic trees have stood undisturbed for centuries, watch village craftsmen at work, listen to legends that seem as old as the hills - and in a single day, take a lifetime’s memory of some of the marvels that the lower Himalayas hold.Through woods of Himalayan Cedar and Spruce, the path to Seepur takes a steady dip down the valley. Past fields and orchards and wood and slate houses one arrives at the glade of Seepur - which the vicerene Lady Lytton called a “tea-cup shaped valley” and was popular for midnight picnics in the days of the Raj. Several slim streams fed by fresh-water springs nurture the soft grass of Seepur. The glade is held sacred to the local deity, Seep who ‘visits’ the spot at select times of year. Shaded by colossal Cedars, a delightful little temple built in the local style with stone and wood, rests on an edge. Smaller shrines merging with the woods are also there. This is the site of an annual fair held over the second weekend of April - and is a time for local matchmaking.From Seepur the decline eases out to the tiny village of Shali, which holds a dozen charmingly rustic structures - and is probably named in honour of the facing peak. Here, the hike-path that snakes along the hill holds a bifurcation, and along a mild incline the route takes a right. This also marks the end of the descent. The view on the facing hill has terraced fields and age-old villages. Along the narrow path, the only sounds one is likely to hear are of one’s own breathing and the crunch of boots over scattered cones. The silence only punctuated by the song of a Himalayan Thrush or Barbet.After Shali comes the home of the deity Seep at Deothi. Local legend has it that the deity was brought with the erstwhile rulers of the Koti state - in whose former territories the hike lies - when they migrated here from Kutlehar, which lies north-west. The temple was first established in the village of Nehra. This tract was then ruled by mavis, local strongmen who wished to share in the worship of Seep. When this was refused, the mavis started desecrating the temple. ‘Speaking’ through his worshippers, Seep declared that he wanted to move from Nehra and a day would come when a long line of ants would march through the village and where they finally circled a mound, was where he wished to reside. The ants came and circled a mound in what is now the village of Deothi - and where Seep was ceremoniously installed. The identity of this local deity has steadily been merged with that of Lord Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu trinity. Styled as a tall gabled mushroom and belonging to an architectural genre unique to this part of the world, Seep’s temple rests at the edge of a small spur and is surrounded by other structures that ‘belong’ to him - a storehouse, a pavilion and a room for folk musicians.Cameo appearances of pomegranate trees and tumbling streams that come close to becoming waterfalls, fresh water springs embellished with utilitarian stonework and a little bridge mark the passage to Mulkoti. Walls of shale and quartzite, now reduced to rubble, hold the remains of the little fort of the Raja of Koti where, centuries ago, the Koti rulers first established themselves. Today only the wooden gate and its brass knockers evoke the memory of their stay. The temple harks back to those days and is held in veneration as the seat of several local deities.Half an hour’s climb from Mulkoti lies the village of Kanda and past this the path crosses the hamlets of Kanda, Ghayabo and Kaneer. The stretch is through terraced fields of assorted vegetables, corn and wheat. Blossom draped or fruit-laden orchards of apples, plums, apricots and peaches offset the fields. Every turn of the track exposes a fresh vista of the valley and the evergreen woods.The lunch stop is at Kanda, where one can take some time to see some local craftsmanship - and even supplement the meal with fresh fruits and salads selected from the fields and orchards.After Kaneer begins the sharp hour-long ascent to the century-old ‘Dak bungalow’, a rest house for travellers. The forests become more primeval and the Deodars, ferns and lichens seem to hold their secrets closer. With luck on ones side, one may encounter pheasants and several other birds and even deer, martens and flying squirrels. The area also has leopards, bears and snakes - but the possibility of sighting one is remote.The vehicle will be waiting to return one to the comfort of ones Hotel.Distance Walking 12kms,THE RETREAT HIKEThe hike begins from Charabara and ascends to the helipad located on an adjacent hillock. The initial path till the helipad is along a tarmac road that winds past the Punjab Raj Bhavan, a vestige from the days when Shimla was also the summer capital of Punjab. From the helipad, that commands a 360-degree view of Shimla and the Himalayan ranges, a footpath penetrates the surrounding forests and descends on to the Old Hindustan-Tibet Road, completed in 1853 by enterprising British engineers as an access route to Tibet. A short stroll along this ancient road, lined by apple orchards on one side, culminates at the school for handicapped children, a landmark from where the loop back towards the hotel begins. Here, in season, one can indulge in a frenzied apple-picking session that the various apple trees growing wild all around the school offer. The trail continues along a vintage cart track that once belonged to the Commissioner for the Hill States, a British officer whose residence was converted into the Presidential Retreat, the traditional summer vacation destination of the President of India. The path meanders till the Presidential Retreat through dense Oak groves that shade a rich undergrowth of ferns and a plethora of wild flowers. From the Retreat, a tarmac road leading back to Wildflower Hall offers magnificent views of the eternal snow-capped Great Himalayan Range and the Shali peak.Distance Walking 6kmsCYCLING THROUGH MASHOBRA AND RAFTING IN CHABBAShimla with its network of natural trails is a cyclist’s delight. Cycling through forests and small villages and quaint hamlets; make cycling in Shimla an unforgettable experience. Our one day adventure here is our testimony to this sweet route comprising the best of activities in Shimla.The adventure further continues after cycling when we go Rafting on the Sutlej, the fastest flowing river in India.Our expert meets you at your hotel in the morning at 8:00AM and we drive to Mashobra.1. MASHOBRA to CHABBA (32kms)The route holds thick woods where practically every tree of the region grows - Himalayan Cedar (the almost legendary ‘Deodar’), Spruce, Oak, Rhododendron, Horse-Chestnut, Birch and Pine. Depending on the time of year, a variety of wildflowers grace the hillsides - the rhododendrons flower a dark red in spring, summer has banks of roses, daises and buttercups, the monsoons speckle the luxuriant grass with lilies-of-the-valley and peonies. Through the year, flitting butterflies stab quick flashes of color. The trail crosses picture-perfect hamlets where the word ‘time’ seems to mean only the seasons and the passing years - and where life has followed a steady pace for centuries. Trace fast flowing streams, cross a ‘sacred grove’ whose majestic trees have stood undisturbed for centuries, watch village craftsmen at work, listen to legends that seem as old as the hills - and in a single day, take a lifetime’s memory of some of the marvels that the lower Himalayas hold. We cycle past Mashobra and descend 16 kms to Thaila and a further 6km to Gumma, a thrilling 22kms downhill ride, thereafrer the road flattens out till basantpur 7kms and we descend again to Chabba. We finish the ride here.2. RAFTING SHORT STRETCH LOTI to CHABBA (Ideal for first timers, families. 7kms-45 minutes)After the ride finishes at Chabba we are transported to Loti on the Sutlej to indulge in Rafting. This is the small stretch ideal for beginners and families, of around 45mins. We finish the rafting and drive back to the hotel.3. RAFTING LONG STRETCH MALGI to CHABBA (Ideal for enthusiasts, 25kms-2.5 hrs)After the ride finishes at Chabba we are transported to Malgi on the Sutlej to indulge in Rafting. This is the long stretch ideal enthusiasts, of around 2.5hrs. We finish the rafting and drive back to the hotel and reach by early evening.Distance Cycling 32kms, Vehicle 140kmsCYCLING THROUGH MASHOBRA AND CRAIGNANOShimla with its network of natural trails is a cyclist’s delight. Cycling through forests and small villages and quaint hamlets; make cycling in Shimla an unforgettable experience. Our day adventure here takes us past Shimla’s stunning mountainscapes and some heritage trails.Our expert meets you at 8:00AM at your hotel and we drive to Kufri at 2400mts affording a wide open vista of the Himalayas. Kufri is also a famous winter destination for skiing. Our ride begins here on national highway 22, on which we ride for about 4kms, before descending on an offroad to join the Mashobra Baikhalty road 6kms downhill. The trail flattens out here and we are riding in a wonderful forest where you would only hear the chirping of the birds and swish of your tyres and the screech of your brakes. Past the villages of Dak Bungalow, Purani Koti, Mashobra is 14kms from here. We reach Mashobra bazaar and start ascending towards Craignano, past the estate of the erstwhile Faridkot royalty and first we reach Talai, an open meadow amidst a thick cedar forest. We savour on our picnic hamper here and continue the ride further past Craignano and the horticulture centre which is worth a visit. Descend to Koti and take the woody trail to Baldeyan, continuing further to reach the Golf course at Naldehra, Asia’s highest and one of India’s oldest Golf courses. The place is so enchanting that Lord Curzon gave his daughter Alexandra “Naldehra” as her middle name. We feast ourselves to snacks at the HPTDC run café here and finish the ride. If one is up for it, we would prod you on to ride back to Shimla.Distance Cycling 42kmsTHE HATU PEAK HIKE IN NARKANDAThe Hatu peak is the highest peak in the 2 hour vicinity of Shimla perched at 3100mts. Between January and mid April each year the peak is out of bounds because of the blanket of heavy snow it receives. A 7kms narrow Jeep road, meandering through the forest brings us to the top; from Narkanda, the gateway to the apple country of Himachal.Our hiking adventure today will find us driving to Narkanda early morning at 7:00AM and arriving in Narkanda at nearly 9:00 AM. After breakfast we will drive a short while from where the road narrows down and begin our hike through the thick forest. The beginning is a well defined trail and we are ascending through thick foliage, and spruce and cedar pine. Depending on the time of year, a variety of wildflowers grace the hillsides - the rhododendrons flower a dark red in spring, summer has banks of roses, daises and buttercups, the monsoons speckle the luxuriant grass with lilies-of-the-valley and peonies. Through the year, flitting butterflies stab quick flashes of color. After an hour of walking we reach out to an open meadow of Jhamunda, from where the climb steepens. There is no marked trail on this stretch so trust your field expert and take his towline. These thick forests are infested with Himalayan black bears. Another two hours later we are at Hatu top. Muse around and treat yourself to the scenic grandeur of the Himalayas a grand 360degrees view, stretching as far as the Sutlej valley below and the Uttarakhand Himalayas to the east. Seek blessings at the Hateshwari temple, the local deity, to whom a temple is dedicated here. Walk further to the meadows at Jaubagh and walk back to drive down the road to the junction. Instead of heading to Narkanda we proceed to the small lake of Tani Jubbar. Musings thereafter we drive back to Shimla.Distance Walking 12kmsCYCLING TO CHAIL – THE ROYALTY OF THE PATIALA KINGDOMChail at 2400mts, a notch above Shimla in elevation, was established by The Maharaja of Patiala during the British times, to teach the British a lesson after he was banned from visiting Shimla. So the Maharaj took to building his palace in Chail, slightly above Shimla to look down upon the British. The palace built in about 200 acres has sprawling lawns and is now a heritage hotel. Chail also boasts of the highest cricket ground in the world. In terms of flora and fauna, Chail has much to offer, extremely dense forest, the habitat for a vast variety of fauna, the most prominent being the Leopard. Although a sighting of this extremely human-shy and nocturnal animal is very rare, regular reports of droppings prove the existence of a large population within the sanctuary. The Himalayan Black Bear and the Brown Bear, Barking Deer, Goral, Jackal, Indian Red Fox, Striped Hyena and the Yellow-Throated Martin are some of the species of wildlife that thrive in the undisturbed forests of the sanctuary. A wide variety of bird and pheasant species can also be spotted in the lower altitude belts of the sanctuary, some of the more prominent ones being the Cheer, Koklas and Khaleej pheasants, the Himalayan Pied Woodpecker, the Great Himalayan Barbet and some sparklingly colorful minivets.Our ride will begin early with our expert meeting you at the hotel at 8:00AM. We drive to Kufri 14kms, from where we begin our ride. Riding a downhill first thing in the morning can be a thrilling experience; as you will find out. From here we follow the connecting road to Mundaghat, a small village on the main Kufri – Chail road; it is here we turn right, following the Bridle path, a small diversion from Mundaghat. Riding on the dirt track through a middle of an oak and pine forest can be a rewarding experience. The ride brings us to the village of Koti, known for its modern tourist resorts, from where Chail is another one hour ride on the Mountain bikes. We go around Chail for a short trip and thereafter sample the lunch waiting for us at the Palace Hotel. Some musings and thereafter we resume our ride on the excellent road with great views bringing us to janedghat from where a winding downhill of 27kms will bring us to Ashwani khud where we finish the ride. Back in the vehicles we drive uphill to Camp redwoods for tea and snacks, before heading back to the hotel.Distance Cycling 62kmsTHE ANANDPUR SADHUPUL CYCLINGShimla built on seven hills, is well connected with a good network of roads. In fact through these seven hills are roads at different elevations; connecting various parts of the hill town. So if there is Mall road on the top, there is lover bazaar below it and then the cart road followed by the recently done Shimla bypass and then the latest which was converted from a bridle path to a road The Mehli to Shoghi byepass road. Our ride today explores the lesser known Shimla through this erstwhile bridle path, cycle through a thick forest, through an exhilarating downhill, challenge us to a grueling uphill and then finish the ride amidst some water revelry at Sadhupul.Our expert meets you at your hotel at 8:00 AM and we drive via the Shimla byepass road to Mehli. This is where we unload the bikes from the support vehicle and start our ride. The first 7 kms are a breeze of good downhill riding, followed by a medium grade uphill of 4 kms, approaching Tara Devi temple. Another seven kms and we enter a forest and ride through the off-road trail to hit the bottom at Ashwini khud after 7kms. This is followed by a grueling climb of 3kms, from where we descend to Sadhupul at 9kms. Once at Sadhupul we enjoy our lunch by the riverside and thereafter drive back to Shimla via Kandaghat.Distance Cycling 42kms

Beware of the monkeys here as they are known to snatch away any free hanging objects from people. Try not to carry anything in your hands, just follow the path and don't pay attention to the etc. It can be visited any day because it remains open seven days a week and entry here is free of cost. Overall it's a lovely hill around Shimla with some amazing views.This post was originally published on Travel With Jha.

It was almost 24 hours since we packed our bags and drove from Delhi. From Delhi to Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Ambala, Chandigarh, Anandpur Sahib, Nangal, Una where we had the tastiest 4 am tea, then Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Shimla, Thyog and Narkanda; From hot and humid to cold and dry. Shimla was crowded but eventually we were on our way towards Narkanda and onwards to Rampur, after being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for 2 hours, with every taxi or car aligned in a reclining position facing uphill. From the initiation of the NH5 itself, I started getting inexorable chills of thinking about the coming sceneries. The road was scooped out of giant Rocky Mountains, with hanging cliffs above.

A perfect combination of ancient and urban, this city has been deemed the most futuristic in the country, while also having been occupied by the Harappan civilisation almost 8,000 years ago.
In fact, BBC has named Chandigarh as a perfect city with regard to its cultural growth, modernisation and architecture.
Nek Chand Rock Garden is a unique and fascinating site, built solely by a man (after whom the garden is named), who used remnants from various demolition sites (particularly the debris while Chandigarh itself was being built) and a whole lot of scrap to build 2000 sculptures, statues, all integrated on walled paths, wherein one can also see man-made interlinked waterfalls.
A short walk away from there is the artificial Sukhna lake, a landmark for families to relax and walk around while enjoying street food and keeping kids busy with quaint toys bought from vendors all around.
Pertaining to Le Corbusier's (chief architect of the city) vision of Chandigarh being a garden city, Rose Garden is home to over 1,500 varieties of rose and the Garden of Fragrance is perfect for those mind-refreshing walks.
Popular places to visit for an insight into Chandigarh and the entire country's history through various artworks are the Government Museum & Art Gallery and the Chandigarh Architecture Museum.
Being one of the top four metro cities of the country, Chandigarh has a bustling food scene, home to every cuisine you can think of right from Mediterranean (Kelong, Virgin Courtyard) to Thai (Tao- Bar & Lounge). Some popular places for Punjabi dishes are Punjab Grill and Sher-e- Punjab.
Chandigarh is also close to many hill stations such as Solan, Kasauli, Shoghi and Naldehra.Read More

This small compact neat and clean union territory is shared by both Punjab and Haryana as their capital. Surrounded by lakes,gardens and greenery all around, this city was one of the early planned cities in post-independence India and is internationally known for its architecture and urban design.You can start your day with a sunrise by the Sukhna Lake followed by a visit to the Rock Garden and Parrot Sanctuary and Rose Garden. End it leisurely at the Leisure Valley.Sukhna Lake: Its a 3 km rain-fed lake with a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills.It is the venue for many festive celebrations with the Mango Festival held during the monsoons being the most popular one.

3-4 mths of research for planning a budgeted trip to Ladakh. This wouldn't have been possible without the help of a friend and owner of Skyriders Adventure. One can contact him on this number for any trip to the Himalayan range, Atul Jaiswal-9855085962. I will also like to add-on the cost reduced as we were 9 people.The journey started from Chandigarh. Mumbai to Chandigarh flight in the evening, touched down at 6.30 pm . As booked 3 mths prior it costed us Rs 6000. The same evening 10.30 pm HSRTC bus to Manali. Costing somewhere around Rs 800-900. The best mode of transport via roadways from Chandigarh.

“Everyone shines, given the right lighting.” ― Susan Cain.May be I was in search of the right lighting too. Amidst the chaos and hustle of everyday life. Jobs, studies, bills, loans, peer pressure- you just feel exhausted and suffocated. This, exactly is the time to DISCONNECT with everyone else and re-connect with your self. Perhaps, I decided to ring people who really are important to me and escape. I am a solo traveler but I have learned a big lesson in life while escaping alone- to appreciate the beautiful people in life. This was the time I wanted to elope with my BEST people. We took a night bus from Chandigarh around 11pm and reached Dharamshala at 6am next morning.

We took a flight from Mumbai to Chandigarh and then boarded a bus from Chandigarh at 10.00 pm which dropped us to Manali at 7.00 am. We stayed at Manali for one day and visited local tourist attractions like Hadimba temple, Beas river, Buddhist Monastery.

I took the 8 pm bus and reached Chandigarh at 10 pm with many events taking place in between. My plan to meet my friend fell into total disarray but it was not all bad news two of my batch mates whom I asked earlier decided that enough with the same person cancelling plans and decided to tag along with me.It was a two hour long wait for me for them to arrive and our journey to Mandi began by the 12:40 am bus.

We were off to Chandigarh in Adhiraj's car after a quick snack at Adhiraj's home.It had been six years since Aakash had left school but our friendship hadn't faced a dent. We were still going strong, unscathed. It was only a small conversation but it meant a lot. Amit hadn't visited Sukhna Lake before, so our next stop became Sukhna Lake.

We left early morning at about 6 and reached Chandigarh in about 1 hour 45 mins. After arriving in Chandigarh we parted our ways I was on my way to go meet my friend while my roommates boarded a bus to reach the location of their test.Sector 15 the place my friend was residing in, fairly close to Rock garden and Sukhna Lake, the main attractions in Chandigarh. So it definitely didn't come as a surprise to me when he put them in the check list to visit first.

We decided to explore one of its kind and smartly planned city “Chandigarh”. We visited the Rock Garden and Rose Garden. We came back to hotel, rested and the same night by 3am we headed back to Pune.The patriotic feel you get at the last defense line of INDIA to the feel of achievement on climbing the peaks of majestic Himalayas, experiencing the peace at golden temple to embracing the 1st ever snowfall of your life.Believe me not once you have travelled, met and learned new things, it’s very hard to stop. . .you will keep looking forward for many such adventures.A special thanks to Audrey Vyas who has helped me write this article.Somewhere between reminiscing about the past and basking in the hope future, I found my true BLISS . . .!!!

Dehradun is easily one of the most popular hill stations in India. Though easily accessible by all modes of transportation, taking the road would be the best way to experience this heaven. The drive will take you through dense forests on the hilly road and if you're lucky, you might even see a wild elephant or leopard pass you by. The fresh and dewy hill air will infiltrate your lungs and put you in a great mood right away.
In terms of things to see, there is Robber's Cave, a river cave formation and Sahashtradhara, which is also a stunning sight of nature consisting of sulphur springs. But more than its sights, Dehradun is the perfect place for a family getaway. After all it has everything that you could need for a relaxing holiday. The town has many vintage bookshops (Natraj Publishers, The English Book Depot), college campuses with hilly backdrops, architectural marvels (such as the Forest Research Institute), alleys filled with quaint restaurants, adventure sports gear shops and forest resorts and hotels to fit every budget. Vishranti, a resort tucked away discreetly in the Sal forests of the Doon valley, deserves a special mention for its beauty and luxury. The city is a haven for foodies as Dehradun offers a lot of variety and affordability in its cuisine. Restaurants and cafes such as Doon Darbar, renowned for devour-worthy Mughlai dishes and The Buffet for its mouthwatering burgers, cutlets and coffee, are popular options. Read More

Scenic and serene, Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh is perhaps one of the most unexplored places in Himachal. Passing through serpentine roads, refreshing, lush greenery, the district is a delight to explore. Though travellers looking to enjoy a luxurious holiday may not have a great time here.
Kalpa is the first village that greets you when you enter Kinnaur. Reckong Peo, Nako and Sangla Valley are some of the villages and valleys that make up Kinnaur district. A journey to Kinnaur is marked with adventure and also an unpredictability that comes from travelling so high up in the mountains. The people in all the villages are very warm and welcoming and are open to sharing their way of life with travellers.
Do plan a long trip here, since Kinnaur district can easily take up to 2 weeks and it's best not to hurry your way through this spellbinding valley.Read More

The picturesque Sangla Valley in the Kinnaur with its bountiful Apple Orchards is known for rich tribal culture and traditions. There is a local tradition to welcome the guests with a garland of dry fruits and a round Kinnauri cap with green flap. It's also known for legally brewing two popular drinks, 'angoori' and 'ghanti'.Where to Stay:Rattan Cottage:A hidden-rural homestay in the picturesque Sangla Valley in Kinnaur district some 275 km from Shimla. The host also participates in the apple fest to showcase his orchard.Address: Village & P.O. Sangla, Tehsil Sangla ,District KinnaurPhone: 0-098052536

But one last visit will do!The road journey was super exciting. But I just wanted a little more scenery to enjoy! Thus next, we headed to the Himalayas again to uniquely end 2016! It was a perfect place to get away from the city for a while. So I decided to celebrate New Year's eve at Kinnaur, famous for sacred Kinner Kailash high range mountains which is home of the Lord Shiva.

The Hindustan-Tibet road or the NH5 to Chhitkul is precarious and can easily shake even the strongest of the hearts. The landslide prone roads are not smooth all the way as a national highway is supposed to be, mere 3m wide, and Satluj River by the side, the ride scared even our expert driver. Our driver had to drink a bit during the dinner time and only then he could drive fearlessly in the night at around 12 am and onwards.Now was our final battle with the roads.

Kinnaur has for centuries been a major trans-Himalayan corridor. Merchants travelling between China and the Punjabi plains passed through on the Hindustan–Tibet caravan route, stretches of which are still used by villagers and trekkers. The bulk of the traffic that lumbers east towards the frontier, however, uses the newer NH-22, which veers north into Spiti just short of the ascent to Shipki La pass, on the Chinese border, which remains closed.

Their family was kind enough to let me know of the bus options and booked a bus to Reckong Peo ( head quarters of Kinnaur district).So, on sunday at 13.30 hours was the bus from Kullu to Reckong Peo( its about 16 hour journey so the bus tentatively reaches around 5.30am the next day ). Off course I was a bit scared because I was going to head out alone and this was supposed to be a group trip and I was heading out solo...Well..You gotta do what you gotta do ...the adventurous side in me overtook the fear and inhibitions in me and prayed to the Divine for guidance!

Mystery Door to Heaven, May be. These pretty things never fail to surprise you. You ask for Sunshine, they&apos;ll give you Rains. Isn&apos;t it? These clouds are like gift wraps for Himalayas. I will wrap you up and who make most effort to see you, I will open it for them. Probably ???? #meandmycrazythoughts----Well, I was quite fascinated with the name of these roads and I wanted to click each and every such passages on the road. But it wasn&apos;t as easy as I was travelling by bus. Still managed pretty well by peeping out from the window and clicking. Many more to come.

There is a temple situated named Taranda Temple. Every vehicle crossing this route offers prayer before proceeding ahead. People here believe that if they do not follow this ritual they will get stuck in the route. And who wants to get stuck in the most deadliest of path with no network and people around. So do the necessary and proceed.

Kinnaur: This corner of Himachal Pradesh is not just known for the best apples in India but also for the hidden corners around the Kinnaur District that make for a great exploration hub. Visit the caves of Tabo, the quaint village of Nako and the nearby town of Kalpa.Kinnaur makes for a great road trip destination for travellers from Delhi reaching Kinnaur via Shimla. Buses and taxis are also available from Shimla and Rampur. You can also reach Kinnaur from Manali via Spiti.Read More: The Mystical Land, Kinnaur by Sachinder S. Rathore

Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,August,September,October,November,December

A quick getaway destination for Delhi-NCR residents, Mussoorie or the 'Queen of Hills' is the most favoured place for anyone battling urban heat.
It remains quite crowded from May to July, as popular hotels and hangouts such as Mall Road, Mussoorie Lake, Kempty Falls and Gun Hill remain pervaded with tourists no matter where or what you may set your eyes upon. But if you carry the spirit of an explorer within you, Mussoorie can surprise you in many ways.
For instance, if you curious to check out where the man who Mt. Everest is named after, once lived, you can reach the house and laboratory through a picturesque 4 km walk from Library Bazaar or Gandhi Chowk. Ditch the customary visit to Kempty Falls and take an uplifting trek to the quiet, serene and crystal clear Jharipani Falls instead. Mussoorie, when mist free, provides frame-worthy views of the Himalayan ranges, which can be enjoyed at points such as Lal Tibba, Nag Tibba and Camel Back Road, all of which need to be trekked or walked to, with the effort being worthwhile.
Devalsari, a village quietly burrowed 55 km away from Mussoorie, is the gateway to the Nag Tibba trek and a location perfect for seeing beautiful butterflies and birds in the heart of nature. For those curious to delve into Himalayan life, history, art, culture and spirituality, Soham Heritage and Art Centre gives exquisite displays of the former, through various artefacts. As for foodies, restaurants such as Neelam, Imperial Square, Meeting Point Cafe and Casa Mia bakery do justice to North Indian, European and Tibetan cuisines and also offer delicious cafe knick knacks and drinks. Read More

We reached Dehradun at 5:00AM in the morning, took a taxi from the railway station to our hotel for 1500 rupees. We stopped for Maggie, tea and omelette. Hot Maggie and tea in cold summer… that’s the kind of vacation I love!! We stayed in Dancing leaves by Sterling. The check-in was hassle free. The way down the slopes to the cottages partly by lift and partly by stairs -felt good but the thought of climbing back every time for a meal or city-visit was daunting. Day and Night both the views were mesmerizing all over, the hotel is on the top of a hill. The only problem was that there is no public transportation to the main city or I should say the famous Mall road from the hotel. It’s either hotel taxi (which is on the costlier side) or walk by foot which isn’t that tiring though. We chose to explore on our own pace and started walking. The city has a small downtown. Where you get good food and Super yummy Momos oh my god!!!! I’d go back to Mussoorie right now Just for Maggie, momos and the street soup. It was delicious!!We wandered around in the Mall road. There are plenty of street shops with variety of stuff. If somebody want to buy good woolen stuff or Pashmina. you are in for a treat!! Mall road is known as the shopping center of Mussoorie.

We decided on a rickshaw ride to the Company Garden. It is a half an hour ride by rickshaw and due to the up and down terrain, one of the riders have to get down very often and walk beside the rickshaw. I, being the girl, of course, didn’t walk. We reached the garden around 3 p.m. The garden was well maintained with beautiful flowers blooming all over the place. The place was swarming with tourists and it was difficult to take pictures. We spent an hour in the garden and happily clicked some pictures like tourists. There was still some time before darkness set in. So, we decided to cross off Camel’s Back Road from the list too. It was another half an hour rickshaw ride from Mall road. Having read so much about this place, I had great expectations but it turned out to be a hoax. On reaching the point, I was so disappointed to find only a telescope and a guide who was more than eager to show us two points on the top of the hill that looked like a camel ( Now who knows if it was real or if someone had arranged it to look like a camel) for 100 bucks. The rickshaw guy took 500 rupees from us for the whole trip. We paid and went to a vehicle rent shop where we booked a scooty for next day. There is only one such shop located near the HDFC bank on the mall road and it is run by a set of twins.We started our day early next day as we had only that day left. We took the scooty from the shop and went to Lal Tibba using GPS solely for directions. I must admit that the directions were not accurate and so we took help of locals. It is in Landour town within a distance of 5.5 km. It was part of the same hoax as the Camel’s Back Road. You reach a point where there is a telescope to look at a hill far away. The only thing I will recommend for the trip to the Lal Tibba was the scenery. I swear I saw a hillside blooming with different varieties of minuscule flowers like nature’s garden.

It was a spur of the moment decision. I had an extended holiday and needed a break desperately. So, I and my boyfriend googled the nearest places from Delhi one can visit. A number of options sprung up but we had to consider a couple of factors. The travelling time should be minimal as we wanted to spend as much time as possible in roaming and the availability of transport mode.The Planning: We zeroed in on Mussoorie as it is only a six to seven hours drive from Delhi. So, we booked the tickets through Paytm (around 700 INR) and hotel room through Oyo (around 1500 INR) and started for the trip day after. It was the month of October. We packed our stuff and went to R.K Ashram Metro station from where we were to board the bus. There were some girl groups too who booked tickets for the same bus. After reaching somewhere near Kashmere Gate, we were shifted to a smaller bus. The girls were not given the seats they booked and naturally, a hue and cry occurred. Luckily, us being a couple got seats together. We didn’t have dinner but we were so excited that we didn’t feel hungry. This was our third trip together but we were as excited as it were our first.The Journey: The journey took only six hours and we reached Mussoorie in the wee hours. A taxi took us from the bus stand to the mall road and dropped us just before no entry. We reached our hotel after ten minutes walk. It was hidden just behind the mall road and was as snug as I could have hoped for. The room was on the first floor and the view from the balcony was mesmerising. Exhausted from the overnight trip, we immediately fell asleep.We woke up around 11 and my boyfriend was already up and taking selfies. The quiet solitude seeped inside me and my mind was washed with a calmness that I hadn’t experienced for a long time. The breath of fresh air can really upgrade your mood. We dressed and left the hotel to have breakfast.The Exploration: The mall road is full of cute cafes and bakeries. You can take your pick from Chinese, Tibetan, Indian to all sorts of cuisine. We went to a Tibetan restaurant that was just around the corner. The Momos Restaurant serves amazing Chinese and Tibetan food. We ordered hot and sour soup and chicken momos and the verdict is 4.5/5. The ambience was great as the interior was done in Tibetan relics and wall hangings. The washroom was on the second floor and when I went to use it, it turned out to be quite a surprise. Part of the wall was not brick and mortar but a large chunk of the hill.Having done a google research the previous day, we decided to cover at least two tourist spots. Mussoorie is at a height of 2006 m and you won’t probably believe me but the mall road is so narrow that you can literally feel being on the edge of the hill. Fog covered the road so much that we couldn’t see beyond 5 feet distance. The air was chilly and there was no sunlight. Some tourists were cycling on the narrow lanes and so we decided to enquire about a two-wheeler. If you want to hire a two wheeler, you should do it in the morning because apparently the vehicles are rented for a whole day.

Road To Mussoorie is Ruskin Bond's typical version of a hill station. He recalls many interesting incidents, writes down stories of various people he came across and his own fond memories of what is India's first famous hill station. His writing immediately takes you to the mountains. Today, Mussoorie has changed drastically from what it was before. It nonetheless continues to be a frequently-visited getaway destination.3. Our Trees Still Grow In Dehra

Mussoorie is a hill station and a municipal board in the Dehradun District of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located about 35 km from the state capital of Dehradun. Being at an average altitude of 1,880 metres (6,170 ft), Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a fascinating hill resort. (Source: Wiki)
Since, we had no plan to stay in Mussoorie overnight, so we decided to head directly towards Kempty Waterfalls, which is most attractive tourists spot in Mussoorie.
We reached there by 2 as far as remember and as soon as the driver showed us a faint site of falls, we all were excited to reach there.
Then, we all girls jumped in ice chilled water. Ohh, the water was so so so cold and it was falling on our head with a great speed. but, it was real fun.
We even had felt the ice pieces in the water too which were falling on us :P. It was not easy to stay in this cold water for a long time so, we came out soon and then changed the dress. This fall has been totally commercialized. There are lots of eating outlets, vendors who give tubes, changing rooms and cloths on rent.

Hey travellers & photographers,Hope you all are travelling to awesome places this year. Here are some photographs from my last trip which was completely unplanned. We left from Delhi to Roorkee for a wedding project and thought of this trip (doubtful).We packed our bags the next day after shoot, sat in the car and discussed for like 30 min, wether to return back to Delhi or continue our journey. One of my team guy couldn&apos;t make it so we helped him board the bus to Delhi :DForgot to mention, we did a toss, and believe me we lost tot he coin and we were supposed to then leave for Delhi. Thankfully steering was in my hand, it was my car, it was my choice :) We reached Mussoorie after a long drive and booked a room. It was very cheap as it&apos;s an off season. Transferred the data of our Roorkee project and charged the batteries. We left for George everest point. It was cold, I mean very cold. We didn&apos;t have clothes for that kind of weather. But somehow we enjoyed the sunset. Next day was Dhanaulti. While returning, our breaks failed and we took lift from some amazing people who helped us. No mechanic was agreeing to come uphills to help us. So we had to drive on 1st gear for 2 hours at 10kmph with the help of hand break. We got delayed by almost 5 hours. But yes we are alive right now :)

Day 2 was all full of fun and long beautiful journeys. Early morning start towards Kempty fall was on the cards. On our way to Kempty fall, we stopped at a restaurant named the lemon grass and it was a bit expensive but the food was good. It started raining mid-way and all the speculations of Kempty fall being shut started. But to our fortune, it was open and we enjoyed it to the fullest. But, like all other places, here also the water was immensely dirty and foul smelling. We couldn't enjoy it for more than 5minutes and came out of it. From Kempty falls, we went to Mussoorie and it was a treat. The famous mall road, stood to our expectations and the mystic clouds coming down with dusk were a treat for the mind. We travelled all the way from one corner to another, for trying the famous cheese omelette and, trust me guys, it was worth all the pain. The soup stalls and other food stalls throughout the mall road are amazing and delicious and are very much affordable. From here, we went back to our guest house and party began till dawn.

It was a sunday in Dehradun like no other. The heavy rainfall made everyone creep into their beds and the lazy sunday became more lazier. Now, you will agree with me if I say that such a weather is perfectly complimented by a cup of tea and a bowl of Maggie but if you live in a hostel you will never get what you want. So as random as a plan can get, we decided to quench our cravings for the cup of tea and visit Missouri. The entire state at the moment was in red alert due to the heavy rainfall yet with a little bit fear we decided to continue with the plan. Leaving Dehradun was looking like a mammoth task as everything was basically under water but by gods grace as soon as we stepped in Mussorie the rain stopped completely. Although the entire town was covered in a thick blanket of mist and everything around us covered with layers of water but it was all enjoyable. Without much ado we bought corn for us, which by the way is the best companion for such a weather. You must have seen a place thousand times but sometimes a small change gives it a different texture. This was the case with us too. Being so close to the place we have visited it a number of times but this time it was way different. It was not packed with the usual amount of tourist, like it always is, nor there were too many side stalls. Just us three friends, the perfect nature and the steaming hot tea in our hand. It started drizzling in between but at the end of the day it was all worth it.

This city has been a refuge for spiritual seekers long before The Beatles christened it with their visit in the 60's. Widely known as the pilgrimage town and also the 'yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh is home to myriad temples, yoga and meditation centres and a plethora of adventure activities.
With an interesting backdrop of the rapid flowing Ganges river and iron-made suspension bridges (Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula), the city has also been a popular hub for travellers and backpackers alike. When it comes to food and drinks, Rishikesh remains a strict teetotaller and a vegetarian, even though you might find with great exploratory skills, a few restaurants not adhering to the prohibition. Some great restaurants and cafes include Little Buddha Cafe where you can enjoy your meals in a treehouse-style ambience.
Rishikesh provides a spectacular treat to the eyes and music to the ears during sunrise and sunset, as sadhus (priests), pilgrims and tourists all around, prepare for the routine 'Ganga Aarti' with temple bells resonating all around and innumerable diyas or small clay pot lit lamps dancing over the river Ganga to that reverberating music, as religious offerings.
Rishikesh warmly welcomes thrill seekers, who can try out a number of activities such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, zip lining, mountain biking and rappelling. The city also annually hosts the International Yoga Festival where yoga gurus, aficionados and devotees from around the globe throng the place (popularly the Parmarth Niketan Ashram) and give various lessons and lectures on yoga, meditation and spirituality. Read More

After getting freshened-up, it’s time to explore this divine city of Uttarakhand. You can walk or take a sharing auto (in case your accommodation is far away from the main town) and reach Ram Jhula (also known as Shivananda Jhula), a suspension bridge across River Ganga connecting Rishikesh to Geeta Bhawan. We took a stop at the famous Chotiwala Restaurant situated near Ram Jhula on the banks of River Ganga that gives a picturesque view of serene Shivalik hills. As the name suggests there sits a dressed up Chotiwala pandit outside the restaurant at all times who looks really adorable and funny. The special thali served here is truly delicious and can be prefered for brunch too. After having our meal, we walked towards the iconic Lakshman Jhula at a distance of 2 kms from Ram Jhula. This divine city is adorned with numerous ancient temples. We visited the Bharat Mandir and significant Trayambakeshwar Mandir, a 13 stories high temple, with each storey has several idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The sound of bells at each storey fills the region with spiritual vibes. Outside the temple there are various lemon soda or Shikanji walas. So do try them out!

It was 11 th April, my Mom and I boarded the bus for Rishikesh from Kashmiri gate bus stand at 10:16 PM. You will get ample number of buses which are going to Rishikesh and other major destination of Uttrakhand. One can also avail train but the number is few. You can also reach Haridwar by train which is around 30Km away from Rishikesh and then can reach Rishikesh by shared jeep, private cab or by bus. We reached Rishikesh around 5AM and then took a hotel for 1hr for a short refreshment.

Day 7: July 14, 2017.So as they say "enjoy the journey", we moved towards delhi via Rishikesh. We were feeling like home there in Govind Ghat. We promised to see that place again and moved.It was the journey that i will always remember, I have come back from that place but really lost something there.Last words we said to the place was "See you soon Valley"

Day 1: Dated July 08, 2017The short journey to Rishikesh we started at around 9:30 pm reached around 3:30 am, we took tea and started searching for bus to Govind Ghat straight away, we got the bus just outside of Rishikesh bus stand. It was around 4:30 am when we started our journey to Govind Ghat. Charges of bus was Rs. 400 per person.This journey to Govind Ghat of around 300 KM was very beautiful surrounded by beautiful mountains and spiritual people going there but too long and tiring too. It took around 11 hrs for us to reach Govind Ghat.We were already feeling like we are just few more steps ahead to our destination.Govind ghat itself is very beautiful place where Gurudwara is there at river side surrounded by really solid rockey mountains, which gives free accomodation to People going to Hemkund sahib. We also took accomodation there for free and thought to give some money to Gurudwara as Seva there.After refreshing for some time we went out to Riverside, walked there and spent some quality time, did some mad things like throwing stones into the river and all.

If you are looking for a break from your hectic life and at the same time you want to wrap it within a day or two. Rishikesh is the perfect destination for you and your friends near Delhi. The trip is also pretty economical.Where is it and How to Reach?Its just 250 km from Delhi in Uttarakhand. It is located in the Himalayan foothills. You will found yourself between low hills on the bank of river Ganges. You can drive a car from Delhi on your own that would take approximately 6 hours or you can get a bus to rishikesh that are price very low.

Next morning, I bid my goodbye to the Noon Gang and left for Rishikesh. I took bus for Rudraprayag from Saari and from Rudraprayag I reached Rishikesh. It was raining cats and dogs and the traffic became worst. I had my lunch at the famous local restaurant Rajasthan house, which served really delicious sweets and local items. After that I attended Aarti. One should not miss the famous river rafting while visiting Rishikesh. The water level during monsoon goes really high. It was really adventurous sport and totally safe as a 10 year old kid was also sailing with me. People come to Rishikesh to seek peace in their life, it is so famous in foreigners that they come directly to Rishikesh in search of inner peace, it is also famous for Yoga. The food here had great influence of European dishes. Though, I couldn't stay there for more than a day, I enjoyed a lot.

Rishikesh is a hotspot for river-based adventure activities such as rafting, canoeing or paddling and, July is the time when tourists leave the shelter of their homes and try something that thrills. However, July is possibly the worst time to go to Rishikesh, since the river Ganga overflows due to rainfall, and washes out anything and anyone that comes in its way. Most tour companies temporarily close their operations during the monsoons to maintain safety standards and avoid mishaps. There are some operators, who ignore these dangers and continue rafting, and other adventure activities in the river. This is also the time that the festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated in Rishikesh. Devotees walk up till a place close to Rishikesh, leading to huge jams on the roads. Save yourself from a bad trip, and ditch your plan for Rishikesh in the monsoon.The best time to visit Rishikesh is from October till May, when you can enjoy rafting, bridge crossing, bungee jumping and many other adventure activities.Pick an alternative to these destinations instead of staying indoors, and don't let the clouds rain on your parade!Have a favourite monsoon destination that is safe and stunning? Write about it on Tripoto and inspire other people to travel to the location.

Two days earlier when we reached Rishikesh after our winter trek to Kuari Pass, no one knew it would be the best days of our vacation. Scion, one of the two very first persons I got to know at the Haridwar Railway Station and one of the member of our Troika, and I, decided to stay at Zostel. Zostel is a very nice concept started in India for solo backpackers. There are double occupancy rooms as well as dorms available with lockers. Many indoor and outdoor activities like Yoga sessions, movie shows, campfire, hiking etc. are available for the people staying in Zostel. I recommend Zostel to all the traveler who want to socialize as once can see people around the world staying there.Settling down after taking a much needed hot shower bath, we immediately took a tour of Zostel and left for the market to buy some essentials. Market near Tapovan area has its own charm and magnanimity. One has to climb down the acute slope near Laxman Jhula and cross the bridge which is known to be an architectural wonder of India. One of the rare iron suspension, Jeepable, bridge of India, Laxman Jhula never disappoints its fans. Crossing the Ganga some 150 Feet below you, every gust of wind, and symphonic sound of Ganges, transcends you to the next level of inner peace.Though the market is a great place, I avoided to buy anything that day. Next morning was my appointment for a Bungee Jump followed by White water rafting in mighty Ganges. I will buy things tomorrow if I am alive, I thought. That very same night I experienced the same fear that we used to have before the exams.As they say, ‘Victory is just ahead of the fear’. You have to face your fears and victory will come on its own. The bungee was out of the world experience with the safe environment provided by Jumping Heights staff. They offer the video of your jump, which is a must buy. So that every time you doubt yourself, just see the video and say to yourself, “Dude, you can jump off this platform, you can do anything”. White water rafting in the laps of Ganges was the next stop. You can’t feel safer anywhere other than your mother’s lap. Mother Ganges takes care of you until you don’t do any mischiefs.Not digressing much from the topic I anticipated much earlier to work upon, we fast forward to the day Scion and I rented an Activa to roam around the town. Crossing the Laxman Jhula on bike should be in your ‘things-to-do-before-I-die’ list. Search of the inner peace took us to Rajaji National Park gate in Tapovan, which is the entrance of the infamous Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, known prominently as – The Beatles Ashram.

Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,October,November,December

An ancient holy town and the starting point for pilgrimages to the Kedarnath Temple and the Badrinath Temple, Haridwar is the first recipient of the mighty rapid and revered Ganges, originating from the Gangotri Glacier. Its vast mythological background, beautiful temples (Shanti Kunj Gayatri Parivar), spectacular festival celebrations and the world famous Kumbh Mela (hosted every 12 years) make it a popular destination to be visited from around the world.
Haridwar comes alive during sunset, when the evening aarti (ritual of worship) starts at Har Ki Pauri, a ghat (steps leading to a river) and the main attraction of the town where both the Ganga banks are lit up with floating claypot candles and chants of devotees and priests resonate musically throughout the town.
The religious city serves no alcohol anywhere and restaurants are strictly vegetarian too, some well known ones being, Big Ben Restaurant, Chotiwala and the Haveli Hari Ganga Restaurant. Read More

This was the last phase of our trip, returning from Joshimath to Haridwar and then back to Gurgaon. We checked out of the hotel by 8.30 am and after a fairly uneventful and comfortable journey, we reached at Haridwar around 5.30 pm. Got a hotel near railway station to rest before catching the train (Mussoorie Express) to Delhi at 11.15 pm.Thus came to end another enticing journey to the mountains, filled with fun, adventure, fairy tales, fantasies, mythologies and overwhelming beauty of nature. A journey that satiated my soul. The places we saw, the people we met and the stories we heard will always be a part of me as memories for life. But my memories of the Valley are not complete yet and hopefully I will come back soon to get drenched in all its colors.

1) Haridwar-Rishkesh Get a car and go all the way 200km to Haridwar. A 5 hour long ride will take you there. Visit the holy place and Get ready to travel a little more to Rishikesh. Here is where the real fun begins. From river side camping to river rafting each and everything here will get you the essential break you need. If you want more info on rishikesh you can read my dedicated blog I published some time ago.

Day 6: Govindghat to HaridwarAgain started our trip early in the morning from Govindghat to reach haridwar on time. We went Har ki paudi and had spiritual experience after attending evening Ganga Arti.

Day 1: Haridwar to Govindghat.It was just 4 hours journey to Haridwar from delhi by train, reached station around 4 in the morning and our taxi for govindghat was waiting outside. Must say it was a picturesque route for Govindghat, enjoyed and captured beautiful landscapes.Finally, around 5 PM we reached Govindghat. Stayed there at Hotel Bhagat (highly recommended for pleasant stay with beautiful view) .We spent full evening sitting there ,clicked pictures in the night, did star gazing as the sky was so clear. Yeah, it was so awesome and relaxing after such a tiring day.

Haridwar to Joshimath is almost 275 kms , however the time to travel by bus is almost 9-10 hours. The Bus route covers from Devprayag, Srinagar ( Garwhal), Rudraprayag and then Joshimath.I reached Joshimath by 4 pm and i had to leave for govindghat on the same day so that i can start early next day. Joshimath to Govindghat is almost 20 kms. and you can find shared taxi's which will cost you 60 bucks to reach Govindghat.

"Rishikesh" is located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, it is known as the 'Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas' & Yoga Capital of India. "Haridwar" is the place where holy Ganges enters the plains of Northern India{Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places (Sapta Puri) to Hindus}. If you are really interested in understanding science of spirit, Hindu culture & lives which revolve around our gods, this is the place to start with. These two places have been an abode of the weary in body, mind and spirit. For me this place gives me an opportunity to enter Shivalik ranges of Himalayas & see the enchanting beauty of Ganges which transforms into a giant river. Day1 I reached Delhi from Bangalore around 9:00 PM IST. The interesting part was we nearly missed our flight thanks to our booked cab. One Pointer to all travellers, we should always have some buffer time to subside delays on route. From Airport reached Delhi Aerocity Metro station, Airport Metro is an easy & convenient mode to reach Railway Station{NDLS}, the station is few walks away from New Delhi Metro Station. I had a reservation in Nanda Devi Express, It leaves at 11:50 PM IST & reaches Haridwar around 3:50 AM IST. You may found this train a bit crowded as it is used by locals a lot but if you have reservation then there shouldn't be anything to worry. There is no pantry so don't expect food or snacks in the train so it is advised to full your tummy before you board the train.Trains to Haridwar via DelhiDay 2 (Haridwar)

Considered as one of the most sacred cities in India, Haridwar is situated at the base of the Shivalik ranges of Himalayas. Every year trillions of people flock here to pay their respect, take a dip in the Ganges, do pooja and to perform the last rites of their loved ones. Come June and July (the month of Shravan), Haridwar bustles with millions of Lord Shiva devotees, known as Kanwarias who come from far and wide to attend Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world. It's a photographers' delight as you can spot some uncommon sights then.Things to do in Haridwar1. Take a holy dip in the Ganges at Har ki Pauri

First impression of Hariwar was wet, it was raining and the clouds blocked out the view of the surrounding hills. After an uneventful night at the interim hotel, the group gathered in the morning and set off for a long drive to Govindghat.The drive was long , but the views along the way got my heart excited for things to come! Even though it remained cloudy throughout, the sight of the banks of mist rolling between hills was something to behold.